Washing machine



May 21, 1929. A. R. OBERWEGNER WASHING MACHINE Filed 001:. 20, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet l y 1929. A. R. OBERWEGNEVR 1.7 4.276

WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmntm Patented May21, 1929.

UNITED STATES ALFRED R. OBERWEGNER, 61' 03:10.

wasrrme mourns.

Application filed October 20, 1927. Serial No. 227,388.

My invention has for its object to provide a washing machine wherein acentrifugal drler used for removing water from the clothes may be sosupported as to reduce the floor space normally occupied by the machinewhen not in use. In this connection the invention also provides a meansfor automatically making connection with the driving mechanism when itis moved into position for use, means, however, being provided fordisconnecting and connecting the drier with the driving means.

The invention has for its object other advantages and features whichwill appear on examination of the drawings forming a part hereto, andfrom the description appended hereto.

The invention may be contained in washing machines of different forms,and toillustrate a practical application 'offthe invention,

I have selected a washing machine containing the invention as an exampleof such structures and shall describe it hereinafter. The structurereferredto, is-shown in the accompan'ying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the washing machine showing thecentrifugal drier in a folded or closed position. Fig. 2 is a sectionalview of a water collector for collectin the water that iscentrifugallyremoved rom' the 80 clothes in the drying operation. Fig. 3 illustratesa detail for disconnecting the drier from the driving mechanism. Fig. 4is a sectional view showing the connecting parts of the washing machine.Fi 5 is also" a sectional view illustrating a etail of the drivingmechanism. Fig. 6 is a view of the cover of the washing machine and atop view of 'the centrifugal drier which is mounted in the cover.

The articular washing machine that I have se ected as an example of thevarious .forms bf washing machine to which my invention may be applied,is of a type well known wherein a centrifugal oscillating member, havingone or-more wings, operates to agitate the clothes and by their movementthrough the water cause the removal of the dirt in the manner well knownin the art.

The oscillating member is operated by a suitable electric motor, whichalso may be used in the constructions embodying my invention,

to drive the drier. Also, such machines are ."usually provided with acover for closing the interior ofthetub of the machine.

. In the articular form of construction shown in t e drawings, thewashing machine 1 is provided with a cover 2 that is hingedlyconnectedto the tub 3 of the. machine so as to enclose the interior ofthe tub. The bottom 4 of the tub is inverted pyramidal or conical inform to normally cause the clothes to slide towards the center of thebottom. A lurality I of oscillatable members 5 that exten radially inthe form of wings, from a central sleeve 6, are supported on andconnected to a spindle 7 that extends through the central art of thebottom of the tub. If'desired, a ish shaped plate 8 may be locatedbeneath the wings .5 and in spaced relation to the central part of ,thebottom 4. The spindle 7 is'operated by a reciprocating rack 10 and apinionll. The pinion 11 is connected to the spindle 7, while the rack 10is connected to a crank 12. The crank 12 is connected to a shaft 13 thatis pivotally'supported in a suitable platform 14 and'm a boss 15 formedina housing16. A worm ear 17 is keyed to the shaft 13 and is driven y aworm 18 that is connected to the motor 19. A

When the clothes have been sufliciently worked by the washing machinetoremove the soil from the clothes, they are, as is well known, runthrough a wringer or a centrifua1 drier. In the construction embodyingmy invention, I have provided a cover 2 that is hingedlly connected tothe top of the tub of the was ing machine, and the drier is mounted inthe cover 2. The drier is in the form of an inverted frustum shaped,rotatable rece tacle 21. The upper edge of the receptacle is curvedinwardly as at 22 and the edge portion is perforated as at 23. When,therefore, the receptacle 21 is rotated at a relatively high speed, thewater will be carried upjthe inc ined, or frustumal, wall, and ass outthrough the openings formedin the inwardly v curve edge portion 22 ofthe receptacle.

' In order to collect'the water that is thus thrown from the receptaclea split annular member 25 is supported on the cover 2. The annulus 25is, preferably, formed of two parts that are clamped together by bolts26 that extend through flanges 27 that are formed at the ends of theparts of the annulus. The annulus has a curved inturned edge portion 32that, preferably, overlies the inturned edge portion 22 of thereceptacle and is provided with a channel 28 that is formed between aridge 29 and the curved wall of the annulus. The annulus 25 is providedwith a mouth 30 to permit the discharge of the water that is collectedin the channel 28. Prefer- I located so as to deliver the water, that isgathered in the channel 28, back into the tub 3 or may be so located asto deliver the water outside of the tub and into a'suitable pail orother container, as the receptacle is being rotated and the water isdirected through the openings 23 and into the channel 28.

The receptacle 21 is rotated by means of a .friction disc 35 thatoperates on a ring 36 located onrthe lower edge of the receptacle. Thering 36 rests against the edge of the disc 35 which is rotated by meansof the motor 19, operating through the shaft 13, to which it isconnected by the bevel gears 37 and 38. The disc 35 is slip keyed to ashaft 39 which is connected to the bevel gear wheel 38 and is supportedon the end of the bracket 40 that is connected to the boss 15 formed onthe housing 16. A spring 24 is located intermediate the disc 35 and thebracket 40. The spring operates to take up the vibration that wouldotherwise be produced by the speed of the rotation of the drier,particularly, when loaded with clothes unevenly. The receptacle isrotatably supported on the cover by means of a pin 44- that is locatedin an end thrust bearing 41 positioned in a ill-shaped bracket 42 thatis secured to, or formed integral with, the cover 2. The upper end ofthe receptacle is also guided in its rotation by the cover and the outeredge portion of the annulus 25. The receptacle 21 is provided with a lip43 that extends over the ridge 29 which coacts to hold the receptacle inits rotative position, and also operates to deliver the water, that isejected through the perforations in the inturned edge portion 22 of thereceptacle 21, into the channel 28, and thus prevent the escape of waterbetween the receptacle and the cover 2.

When the drier is in operation, the weight of the cover, the receptacle,and the clothes, resses the ring 36 against the disc 35 wherey goodfrictional contact is made and good drivin connection is established.When it is desired to remove the clothes, from the drier, the drivingconnection with the electric motor may be discontinued by means of a cam45 that is rotatably supported in a bracket 46 secured to the side ofthe tub ,3 of the machine. The cam 45 is connected to the rod 47 thatextends to one corner of the tub and is rotat ably supported in thebrackets 46 and 48. The rod 47 may be provided with a handle 49 wherebythe rod 47 may be conveniently rotated to rotate the cam 45. TheU-shaped bracket 42 of the cover 2 is provided with-a U-bar 50 thatpartially surrounds the drier and in position so as to be engaged by thecam 45 to move the ring 36 away from the friction disc 35 when thehandle 49 is rotated. Thus the driving connection with the motor 19 maybe easily established and disconnected by manipulation of the cam 45.

When the Washing has been completed, the

cover may be closed which inverts the drier connecting the drier withthe rotary member in a swing position of the drier.

3. Incombination with a washing machine and a driving mechanismtherefor, a centrifugal clothes drier pivotally connected at one side ofthe drier to the washing machine, and a means for connecting the drierto the driving mechanism in a swing position of the drier about itspivotal support.

4. In combination with awashing machine and a driving mechanismtherefor, a cover for covering the tub of the washer and hingedlyconnected with the washing machine, a centrifugal drier supported on thecover, a rotatable member connected to the driving mechanism, and ameans for rotatably connecting the drier with the member when the coveris swung to open the tub.

5. In combination with a washing machine and a driving mechanismtherefor, a cover for covering the tub of the washer and hingedlyconnected'with the washing machine, a centrifugal drier supported on thecover, a friction disc to rotate the drier connected to the drivingmechanism, a means for rotatably connecting the drier with the frictiondisc when the cover is swung open, the drier having an invertedfrustumal shaped receptacie and an annulus for collecting the water thatis rentrifugally. forced from the upper end of the receptacle. p

6. In combination with a washing machine and a driving mechanismtherefor, a cover for coverin the tub of the washer and hing; edlyconnedled with the washing machine, a centrifugal drier supported on thecover, a friction disc to rotate the drier connected to the drivingmechanism, a means for rotatively connecting the drier with the frictiondisc when the cover is swung open, and a manually operated means fordisconnecting the drier from the disc.

7. In combination with a washing machine and a driving mechanismtherefor, a cover for covering the tub ofvthe washer and hingedlyconnected with the washing machine, a centrifugal drier supported on thecover, a friction disc connected to the driving mechanism, a means forrotatably connecting the drier with the friction disc when the cover isswung open to rotate the drier, the drier having an inverted frustumshaped receptacle, an annulus for collecting the water that iscentrifugally forced from the upper end of the receptacle, and a springfor yieldingly pressing the disc against the drier.

8. In combination with a washing machine and a driving mechanismtherefor, 21 cover for covc'rng the tub of the washing :machine nectedto the driving mechanism of the wash-- ing machine and adapted to engagethe centrifugal drier when in a swung position, and

a spring for yieldingly resisting the movement of the disc by thepressure produced by the drier.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

ALFRED R. OBEBWEGNER.

